Stretch spinning equipment



Sept. 26, 1961 o. v. DRTINA 3,001,229

STRETCH SPINNING EQUIPMENT Filed Dec. 19, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet l INV EN TOR OTTO 1 0A TWA B 2%; 19%

Sept. 26, 1961 o. v. DRTlNA 3,001,229

STRETCH SPINNING EQUIPMENT Filed Dec. 19, 1958 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Sept. 26, 1961 o. v. DRTINA STRETCH SPINNING EQUIPMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 GEN Filed Dec. 19, 1958 INVENTOR 0770 v DA T/A A froth 3,001,229 STRETCH SPINNING EQUIPMENT Otto V. Drtina, 11426 W. Clifton Blvd,

Cleveland 2, Ohio Filed Dec. 19, 1958, Ser. No. 781,804 4 Claims. (Ci. 18-8) The present invention relates generally to improvements in equipment for the wet spinning of artificial fibers and it relates more particularly to an improved apparatus for the high speed spinning of high tenacity regenerated cellulose yarns, cords, tows, staple fiber, sheeting'and the like. This application is a continuation in part of the patent application of Otto V. Drtina, Serial No. 603,797 filed August 13, 1956 and now abandoned.

The term high tenacity yarns is generally applied to rayon yarns having a breaking point elongation in excess of 8% and in commercial production having a tenacity of 4 to 6 grams per denier. Such high tenacity'yarns are produced by extruding the viscose into a highly acidic spin bath having a sulphuric acid concentration'of the order of 65% in addition to the usual salts and additives em ployed, and elrecting a stretch of about 200 to 250%. According to the conventional methodsof producing high tenacity rayon yarns the viscose spinning solution is extruded into a slow moving or relatively stagnant spin bath whereby to limit the spinning speed to a maximum'of about 100 yards per minute. Methods and apparatus forin creasing the maximum spinning speeds have been employed and variously proposed and these generally in clude imparting a velocity to the spinbath in the direction of movement of the freshly spun filaments and are usually effected by extruding the viscose from the spinnerette into an open ended spinning tube through which the spin bath travels in the direction of travel of the extruded filaments. However, the equipment and methods previously suggested possess numerous drawbacksand disadvantages. They are unsuitable for the practical high speed spinning of high tenacity yarns. In many cases they present a great personal hazard since the operator or attendant is exposed to the highly acid spin bath with a great chance of personal injury and in othercases the spinning conditions are difiicult and often impossible to observethereby reducing the ease of proper control.

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved wet spinning apparatus.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for the production of high tenacity rayon filaments and fibers having tenacities reaching as high as 13 grams per denier and more.

Still another object of the present invention is to pro vide an improved apparatus for the high speed spinning of high tenacity rayon yarns and fibers.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved high speed high tenacity rayon spinning apparatus in which thepersonal hazards attendant to its use have been minimized and in which the spinning conditions may be readily observed.

Still a further object of the present invention is to produce a spinning apparatus of the above nature characten ized by its ruggedness, simplicity and ease of operation.

The above and otherobjects of the present invention will become appartent from a reading of the following as scription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, partially in section and partially broken away,of an improved continuous spinning 'rnachine embodying the present invention;

a FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of a pair of ganged encased reels employed in the presentapparatdsand pro 'vided with liquid yarn separating means; t

3,%di,229 Patented Sept. 26, 1961 FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of another ern= bodiment of the present invention; and

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged detail cross sectional view or a continuous reel section of the above apparatus.

In a sense the present invention contemplates the provision of an improved wet spinning device of the character described comprising a substantially closed spinning than said first leg feed end, said spinning tube having-a transverse cross sectional area diminishing from the feed end to the discharge end thereof, a spinning head carrying" a spinnerette and movable into separable engaging reg istry with said chamber access opening to seal said opening, means connecting said spinning head to a sou'rceof spinning solution, valved conduit means connecting the interior of said chamber to a source of spin bath and valved venting means communicating with the interior of said chamber.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGURES 1, 2 and 4 of which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the reference numeral 10 generally designates the spinning machine main support frame which carries' a support rail 11 on which is mounted a spinning tube 12 in accordance with the present invention. The spin ning tube 12 is of substantially inverted U or V shape having a vertically extending first relatively sho trail? ing leg and a vertically extending relatively long leading leg, the two legs being connected at their upper end by'a joint which permits the transverse movement of the scc- 0nd leg-relative to the first leg. The bottom endof the spinning tube first leg defines a .feed opening com municating with the interior of a spherically shaped transparent spinning chamber or globe 13 preferably formed of glass and extending into the top thereof and the bottom end of the second leg terminates in a dis charge opening located below the level of the chamber" 13. It is important to note that the transverse cross sectional area of the spinning tube 12 gradually decreases from the feed end to the discharge end so that fluid tray sling theret-hrough correspondingly increases; Formed in the wall of the chamber 13 is a flanged opening which is separably hermetically engaged by a suitably shaped matching flanged spinning head 14 carrying a spinnerett' 18 and directed into the chamber 13, the spinnerett'e 18 being removably mounted on the head 13 by means of a suitable nut 19. When the'spinning head 14 en? gages the dome flanged opening the spinnerette 18 is di rected upwardly and is coaxial with the spinning tube feed opening. The head 14 is carried by and cornmunicates with a filter 21 by means of a. rigidpipe 20, the assembly being rockable about a pivot point 27 at the end of a suitably mounted bracket 26 to bring the head 14 into and out of registcry with the chamber flanged opening. The spinning head 14 is releasably lockedin position by a latching mechanism including a pivoted curved arm 15 carrying a release knob 16 releasably en.- gaging the spinning head 14. The filter 21 is connected by way of a drip diverting collar carrying neck 22 to a pump assembly 23; Mounted on the frame 10 is shelf 24 which carries the bracket 26, the pump assern bly being mounted thereon and the filter and spinnerctte assembly being pivoted thereto as aforesaid. Viscose is delivered to the pump 23 by a pipe 23 connected to a suitable source thereof and the pump is driven by a gear 30 mounted on a drive shaft 29 and engaging the drive gear '31;

l The spinning chamber 13 is connected to a spinbath distributing pipe or manifold 33, which may feed a plurality of chambers 13, by way of a connecting pipe 34 and a valve 35 which permits the adjustment of the rate of spinbath feed to the chamber 13 as well as to the complete cut-off thereof. In order to permit the vent ing of the chamber 13 and spinning tube 12, a venting pipe extending above the level of the top of the spinning tube 12 is connected by way of a venting valve 36 to the pipe 34 between the valve 35 and the chamber 13. Inoperation, a yarn or bundle of filaments 39 extruded through the spinnerette 13 into the chamber 13 is carried with the spinbath through the tube 12 and stretched, as will be hereinafter set forth.

. The lower movable discharge end of the spinning tube 12 communicates with a substantially closed casing 40 housing a rotating self threading temporary thread storing thread advancing continuous reel 42, one'end of the casing 40 being closed by an end plate 41 and the reel 42 projecting through the opposite end thereof. A plurality of separately housed continuous reels 42 are mounted on a common drive shaft 43 to which is keyeda gear 44 engaging a mating worm gear carried on a main drive shaft 45.

' Each of the reels 42 is of an improved self threading, thread advancing construction including, as conventional, a pair of canted reels comprising interdigitating longitudinally extending bars 51 and 51 carried on respective end discs 52 and 52. In accordance with the present novel construction there are large circumferential positively maintained spaces between successive bars 51 and In order to assure these positive circumferential spacings the disc 52 is connected to and driven by an inner gear 46 and the disc 52 is connected to and driven by the internally toothed gear 47 mating the gear 46.

By reason of the positive wider inter-bar spacings a greater threading speed is achieved.

The lower discharge end of the spinning tube 12 enters the upper portion of the casing 40 by way of a flexible bellows 55 which permits the transverse movement of the discharge end of the spinning tube 12. To facilitate the movement and positioning of the spinning tube discharge end there is provided a suitably mounted hand lever 48 swingable forwardly and rearwardly about a pivot point 49 and connected to the spinning tube swingable leg by a rod 50. Access into the interior of the casing 40 is afforded by means of a hinged door 56. A plurality of liquid feed members or inlet funnels 57 and 58 may be located on the wall of the casing 40 and have outlets directed toward the continuous reel to permit the introduction and application of desired treating liquids to the thread advanced by the reel. Associated with each of the tunnels 57 and 58 is a corresponding discharge conduit 59 and 60 respectively, located at the bottom .of the casing 40. The effluent liquids leaving the conduits 59 and 60 may be discharged, or replenished and regenerated and recirculated. As illustrated in FIGURE .1 of the drawing, the thread leaving the reel 42 is led upwardly to a further continuous reel where the yarn may be further treated or dried in the usual manner, or in the alternative, as shown in FIGURE 3 of the drawing the thread leaving the reel 42 is withdrawn and advanced by a pair of godets 66 and directed by a traversing funnel 67 into a centrifugal pot in the usual manner.

Another form of the present apparatus is illustrated in FIGURE 3 of the drawing and more particularly in the right hand section thereof, wherein the spinning tube 112 includes a relatively very short trailing section and a very long leading section rigidly connected to the upper end of the trailing section by an inverted U-shaped section. The spinning tube 112 is of gradually decreasing crosssection from the feed to the discharge end, and like the previous embodiment carries and communicates with a glass spinning chamber or dome 113 at its feed end.

The spinning dome has a side opening therein with which separably registers a spinning head 114 carrying a spinnerette 118 and connected by way of a pipe 20, filter 21, neck 22 and a metering pump driven by a shaft 29, to a source of viscose. Communicating with the bottom of the dome 113 is a pipe 34 which is connected through a T coupling to a spin bath carrying pipe by way of an adjustable valve 35 and to a vent pipe by way of a valve 36.

The operator or attendant stands on a platform 61 in order to manipulate the spinning head, the discharge end of the spinning tube 112 being below the platform 61 and immersed in the eflluent spinbath disposed in a trough defined by the bottom of a casing 40 which is substantially fully enclosed and into which access may be had through a hinged door as in the previous embodiment. The thread 39 leaving the spinning tube 112, travels around a pair of guides and is withdrawn and advanced by a pair of godetsv 66 and deposited into a centrifugal pot by way of a traversing funnel.

The driving ofthe various components is best seen in FIGURE 3 of the drawings and is fully described in detail in the copending application of Otto V. Drtina,'Serial No. 662,543 filed May 22, 1957, now Patent No. 2,895,- 284, and based upon the original application Serial No. 535,053, filed September 19, 1955. Briefly the drive system includes a main electric drive motor 64 having an adjustable speed output which is connected by way of a main shaft 63 through the continuously variable speed drives 62 and 162 to the respective pump drive shafts 29. Also driven by the main shaft 63 through suitable coupling means are'the godets 66, the traversing funnels 67 and the reel drive shaft 45 by way of a. sprocket chain 65.

Considering now the operation of the improved apparatus employing the continuous reel, the spinning head 14 is brought into registery with the spinning dome 13, the vent valve 36 is closed and the spinbath valve 33 is then opened to cause the spinbath, which is preferably of high acidity to flow through the spinning tube 1'2. Viscose is metered by the spinning pump by way of the filter 21 through the spinnerette 18 where the filaments are coagulated and carried by the flowing spinbath along the spinning tube 12 to the discharge end thereof. By reason of the rapidly moving spin bath the viscose and thread is not permitted to accumulate in the spinning dome, and a controlled hydraulic stretch may be imparted to the thread by adjusting the valve 35. In as much as the spinning tube tapers toward its discharge end the speed of the spinbath therethrough is correspondingly increased thereby varying the hydraulic tension on the yarn in accordance with the other parameters. The coagulated thread initially falls directly on the top of the reel 42 to effect the threading thereof, as illustrated by broken line in FIGURE 4 of the drawing, and the spinning tube leg is then swung to its normal tangent position by manipulation of the lever 48. A detailed description of the operation and manipulation of the reel 42 may be had by reference to copending application Serial No. 585,116, filed May 15, 1956, now Patent No. 2,953,007, and Serial No. 624,649, filed Nov. 27, 1956, now Patent No. 2,940,244.

The thread 39 is then drawn from the discharge end of the reel 42 where it is led to a further continuous reel or by way of the godets 66 and funnel 67 to a centrifugal pot. If it is desired for any reason to gain access to the spinnerette 18 or dome 13, the valve 35 is closed, the valve 36 opened so that the spinbath in the dome 13 is siphoned off by the spinning tube 12, and the spinning head 14 is swung out of engagement with the dome 13. It is apparent from the above that the entire spinning procedure is always visible through the transparent components and that by reason of the substantially complete enclosure of the various liquid carrying sections any personal danger or hazard due to contact with the spinbath is almost completely obviated.

As a specific example of the spinning of high tenacity rayon with the above apparatus, for a final speed of 500 yards per minute and an overall stretch of 250% the viscose extrusion speed through the spinnerette is 200 yards per minute. For an initial stretch of 150% in the spinning tube, the spinbath velocity at the discharge end of the tube is adjusted by means of the valve 33 to as high as 300 yards per minute and the tube is so dimensioned that the yarn will travel along the tube concurrently with the spinbath and be accordingly stretched.

The operation of the spinning apparatus of the present invention which employs a centrifugal pot is similar to that described above and requires no further explanation.

It is obvious from the above that an improved wet spinning apparatus has been provided which may be safely used with the highly acidic baths employed in the production of high tenacity yarns with a minimum of personal hazard. Furthermore, the spinning stages, at their critical zones are always exposed to view for continuous observation and the various components are readily accessible for easy manipulation. While the apparatus is particularly suitable for the production of high tenacity rayon yarn the novel concept thereof may be applied to the production of staple fiber, filaments, cords, tows, sheeting and the like.

While there have been illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the present invention it is apparent that numerous alterations, omissions and additions may be made without departing from the spirit thereof as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An improved wet spinning apparatus of. the character described comprising a substantially closed spinning chamber having an access opening formed therein, a spinning tube including a first upwardly extending leg having a lower trailing feed end communicating with the interior of said chamber and a second downwardly extending leg communicating with the upper end of said first leg and terminating in a bottom discharge opening at a lower level than said first leg feed end, said spinning tube having a transverse cross sectional area diminishing from the feed end to the discharge end thereof, a spinning head carrying a spinnerette and movable into separable engaging registry with said chamber access opening to seal said opening, means connecting said spinning head to a source of spinning solution, valved conduit means connecting the interior of said chamber to a source of spinbath and valved venting means communicating with the interior of said chamber.

2. An improved wet spinning device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said access opening is formed in a side wall of said spinning chamber and said spinning head is mounted on and communicates with a swingable pipe defining said connecting means, said spinnerette being upwardly directed and in alignment with said spinning tube when said spinning head is in engagement with said access opening.

3. An improved wet spinning device in accordance with claim 1 including a three legged pipe fitting having a first leg communicating with said spinning chamber through the bottom thereof, a second leg connected to said spin bath valved conduit means and a third leg connected to said valved venting means which includes a vent pipe ex tending to a level above the upper end of said spinning tube.

4. An improved wet spinning device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said spinning tube second leg is transversely movable relative to said spinning tube first leg.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,641,588 Holken Sept. 6, 1921 1,707,595 Berl Apr. 2, 1929 2,210,914 Knebusch Aug. 13, 1940 2,642,333 Tomonari et al. June 16, 1953 2,731,667 Bradshaw Jan. 24, 19. 56, 

